Amid Haryana rivarly, Prabhat Jha calls BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab ‘ajar, amar, atoot’

PHAGWARA: Differences between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might be growing in Haryana, but the saffron party’s national vice-president Prabhat Jha described ties between the two allies in Punjab as “ajar, amar, atoot (indestructible, immortal and unbreakable)” on Wednesday.
Addressing a public meeting here, Prabhat Jha, who is also BJP’s Punjab affairs in-charge, said he wanted to remove any confusion about the alliance as it would be everlasting.“The alliance between BJP and Akali Dal is historic and through this a message goes to the entire world. This alliance will stay forever. People should be beware of rumours. The alliance is strong and no one can break it. This alliance is ajar, amar, atoot. In 2022, we will form the government in Punjab,” Jha said.
He eulogized former CM and SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, describing him as the “heart of Punjab”. He said Badal enjoyed a lot of respect and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi would touch his feet in front of all. “If the alliance wins all four seats, it would lay the foundation of the SAD-BJP government in 2022,” he said.
Later, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal echoed similar sentiments. “Our alliance is for generations and would stay for times to come. None can separate SAD and BJP, and this answer will remain the same even after 40 years,” he said. Sukhbir was reacting to Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh’’s statement that the SAD-BJP alliance was on the verge of breaking.
Asked about Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s statement that SAD leaders kept reaching out to BJP leaders for an alliance in the state, Sukhbir said, “We shall talk about Punjab only. This alliance is based in Punjab and it would stay here forever. In Haryana, we never had an alliance with BJP,” he said.
Asked if BJP would come to power in Haryana, he said, “I shall talk about Punjab only.”
BJP state president Shwait Malik also spoke on similar lines. After addressing an election meeting in support of BJP candidate Rajesh Bagha, the Akali and saffron party leaders also addressed an election meeting in support of BJP candidate Jangi Lal Mahajan in Mukerian.